Tape applicator



June 13, 1967 A. J. mason:

TAPE APPLICATOR Filed May 6, 1964 INVENTOIL Arthur J. Gibson BY ,w, w W

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,325,336 TAPE APPLICATOR Arthur J. Gibson, 3019 Brockton Place, Saginaw, Mich. 48602 Filed May 6, 1964, Ser. No. 365,372 3 Claims. (Cl. 156-577) This invention relates to a manually operable applicator for pressure sensitive flat tapes such as conventionally are wound in a roll from which a length of tape may be unwound and pressed against a surface so as to shield the latter. More particularly, this invention pertains to a tape applicator of the class referred to which is provided with means for maintaining the tape aligned with an edge of the surface to be shielded by the tape.

The use of pressure sensitive tape as a shielding or masking means is quite common in those instances where an object is to be protected against being covered or coated with fluids such as paint, for example. Various kinds of tape applicators have been proposed heretofore to facilitate the application of the tape to the surface to be protected, but not all such devices have been altogether satisfactory for a number of reasons. For example, it is fairly common to make use of a rotatable pressure roller around which the tape may be trained, but in some of the known devices the presser roll is wider than the tape. As a result, the ends of the presser roll may prevent application of the tape as close to a wall or the like as may be desired. On the other hand, some of the known applicators have utilized presser rolls that are narrower than the tape. In these constructions it is not possible to utilize the presser roll to bear against the side edges of the tape, thereby sometimes resulting in rippling of the tape and necessitating a hand smoothing operation. In still other kinds of known applicators, the presser roll has been straddled by flanges between which a tape is adapted to pass. Such constructions are not satisfactory when it is desired to apply the tape to a flat surface for the reason that the flanges prevent the tape from being pressed against the surface. Moreover, the use of flanges at opposite ends of a presser roll restricts the size tape that may be used with such apparatus to a tape no wider than the width of the space between the flanges.

Apart from the foregoing, none of the known tape applicators is capable of reliably following the contour of a curved surface, particularly in those instances where the tape must be curved inits own plane.

An object of this invention is to provide .a flat tape applicator that is capable of overcoming the disadvantages of known tape applicators.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tape applicator which is capable of use with tapes of different widths.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tape applicator having a presser member and which is so constructed as to be capable of maintaining one edge of the tape aligned with one edge of the presser member.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tape applicator of the kind referred to which is capable of guiding a tape around curves necessitating the tapes negotiating curves in its own plane.

A further object of the invention is to provide .a manual tape applicator which is simple to use, inexpensive to manufacture, and durable in use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed out specifically or will become apparent from the following description when it is considered in conjunction with the appended claims and the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a tape applicator constructed in accordance with the invention and 3,325,336 Patented June 13, 1967 illustrating the manner of its use to apply a flat tape to a flat surface terminating in a vertical edge.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown FIGURE 1, but with the tape removed; and

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of FIGURE 1.

A tape applicator constructed in accordance with the invention comprises a support member designated generally by the reference character 1 and comprising an elongated body 2 formed of metal or the like terminating at one end in a handle 3. The body 2 terminates at its other end in a laterally projecting foot 4 that extends to one side of the body 2.

Between its ends, the body member is provided with a laterally extending boss or projection 5 that extends in the same direction as the foot 4. The boss is provided with a tapped hole 6 in which is received a correspondingly threaded bolt 7. Rotatably mounted on the bolt 7 is a generally cup-shaped hub member 8, comprising a disc-like base member 9 on which is supported an annular flange 10. Concentric with the flange 10 is a sleeve 11 in which the bolt 7 is rotatably received. The sleeve 1s1 is reinforced by gussets 12 extending between the sleeve and the base 9, and the flange 10 is reinforced by similar gussets 13.

The diameter of the flange 10 is somewhat less than the diameter of the base 9 whereby the latter forms a marginal flange 14 at one side of the member 8. The diameter of the flange 10 is such as to correspond substantially to the diameter of a mounting ring 15 on which a suitable length of pressure sensitive tape is wound. The tape is conventional and has one adhesive side and one non-adhesive side, the tape being wound in such manner that the adhesive side bears against the non-adhesive side of a previously wound convolution.

The ring 15 conventionally is formed of paper, plastic, or other compressible material of relatively weak structural characteristics. In order to assure a frictional, nonslip mounting of the roll of tape on the hub member 8, the outer surface of the flange 10 preferably is provided with circumferentially spaced ribs 17 which may fit tightly within or slightly score the mounting ring 15 of the tape and form a key or interlocking assembly therewith of sufficient strength to restrain relative rotation between the drum 8 and the backing ring 15.

Presser roll means designated by the reference character 18 is rotatably mounted on the foot 4 for rotation about an axis that parallels, but is spaced from the axis of rotation of the drum 8. The presser member 18 comprises a cylindrical sleeve 19 terminating at one end in a circumferential flange 20. Between its ends, the sleeve 19 is joined by a radial partition 21 to a concentric mounting sleeve 22, the latter being reinforced by circumferentially spaced vanes or ribs 23 extending between the sleeves 19 and 22. The sleeve 22 is adapted rotatably to accommodate the shank 24 of a bolt having a head 25 at one end and a reduced diameter, threaded portion 26 at the other end, the threaded portion 26 being received in a correspondingly threaded opening 27 formed in the foot 4.

Mounted on the exterior of the sleeve 19 is a member 28 formed of natural or synthetic rubber or rubber-like material and having a cylindrical bore 29, but a tapering or frustoconical exterior surface 30. The member 28 tapers inwardly from the flange 20 so that the greater diameter of the member 28 is adjacent the flange 20. However, the greatest diameter of the member 28 is not as large as the flange 20. Consequently, a portion of the flange 20 projects radially beyond the resilient member 28.

To condition the apparatus for use, a roll of tape 16 is mounted on the hub 8 in such manner that the nonadhesive side of the tape may be trained around the presser member 18 with the adhesive side of the tape in a position to be pressed against the surface of a member 31 to be protected. The applicator then may be moved forwardly, or to the right as viewed in FIGURE 1, to unwind tape from the roll and press it against the member 31.

As tape passes around the presser member 18, the taper of the latter will cause the tape constantly to ride in a direction to abut the flange 20 as is indicated in FIGURE 3. If the tape is applied to a flat surface inwardly of its side edge, the member 28 inwardly of the flange 20 serves to press the tape against such surface. If the tape is applied to a flat surface at its edge, the flange serves to guide the presser member along the edge of the surface so as to enable the tape to be applied uniformly along the entire length of the surface. The guiding function of the flange 20 enables apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention to apply tape to a flat surface and around a curve in the plane of the tape.

The disclosed embodiments are illustrative of presently preferred forms of the invention, but are susceptible of further modifications. This disclosure therefore is intended to be illustrative of the invention rather than definitive thereof. The invention is defined in the claims.

mounting said presser roll means on said support member for rotation about an axis parallel to, but spaced from, the axis of rotation of said tape roll whereby a length of tape extended from said tape roll may be trained around said presser roll means and pressed by the latter against a surface, said presser roll means being axially tapered; and a flange at the greater diameter end of said presser roll means projecting beyond the confines thereof.

2. A tape applicator comprising a support member; a hub mounted on said support member for rotation about an axis; means on said hub for frictionally clamping a tape roll thereon for rotation therewith; presser roll means having a frustoconical external surface; means mounting said presser roll means on said support member for rotation about an axis parallel to but spaced from the axis of said hub, whereby a length of tape may be extended from a roll mounted on said hub and be trained around said presser roll means so as to be pressed by the latter against a surface; and a flange at the greater diameter end of said presser roll means projecting beyond the confines thereof.

3. The apparatus set forth in claim 2 wherein said presser roll means extends to one side of said support member, and wherein said flange is at the end of said presser roll means that is remote from said support member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS EARL M. BERGERT, Primary Examiner.

DOUGLAS J. DRUMMOND, Examiner. 

1. A TAPE APPLICATOR COMPRISING A SUPPORT MEMBER; HUB MEANS ON SAID SUPPORT MEMBER FOR MOUNTING A TAPE ROLL FOR ROTATION ABOUT AN AXIS; PRESSER ROLL MEANS; MEANS MOUNTING SAID PRESSER ROLL MEANS ON SAID SUPPORT MEMBER FOR ROTATION ABOUT AN AXIS PARALLEL TO, BUT SPACED FROM, THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID TAPE ROLL WHEREBY A LENGTH OF TAPE EXTENDED FROM SAID TAPE ROLL MAY BE TRAINED AROUND SAID PRESSER ROLL MEANS AND PRESSED BY THE LATTER AGAINST A SURFACE, SAID PRESSER ROLL MEANS BEING AXIALLY TAPERED; AND A FLANGE AT THE GREATER DIAMETER END OF SAID PRESSER ROLL MEANS PROJECTING BEYOND THE CONFINES THEREOF. 